HARARE , Zimbabwe -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Illegal diamond mining by Zimbabwean troops is leading to bloodshed and attacks against civilians , said a global watchdog group formed to cut the flow of so-called `` blood diamonds . ''

The armed forces also are accused of funneling money from diamond fields to President Robert Mugabe 's party .

Residents and workers contributed accounts of attacks detailed by the interim findings of the Kimberley Process after a weeklong investigation in Zimbabwe .

The probe started days after a Human Rights Watch report accused the nation 's armed forces of violently taking over the diamond fields in Marange district and killing about 200 people since last year . Some victims of the clash were buried in mass graves , the report said .

Lameck Chiso , 29 , said he was stopped at a police checkpoint on his way from work in the diamond fields .

`` Three men in army uniform jumped into my car and asked me to drive them back to the mining area , '' Chiso said .

They took his money and urged him to praise the `` wonderful job '' the army was doing of restoring order to the Marange diamond area , Chiso added .

`` I complied , but they responded by assaulting me with the back of a gun on my back , '' he said .

Kimberly Process officials urged the government to demilitarize the diamond fields and investigate the accusations against the military .

Tapiwa , 32 , who declined to give his last name , said he has scars on his back and head from beatings he got when troops found him in the mining area .

Such stories are common , said Georgette Gagnon , director of Human Rights Watch . The organization said more than 100 witnesses , including soldiers and children , were interviewed for its report .

`` The police and army have turned this peaceful area into a nightmare of lawlessness and horrific violence , '' Gagnon said . `` Zimbabwe 's new government should get the army out of the fields , put a stop to the abuse and prosecute those responsible . ''

The money from blood diamonds can end up funding rebel violence , the Kimberley Process group said .

Separately , Human Rights Watch has accused the armed forces of funneling money from the fields into ZANU-PF , President Robert Mugabe 's party . The government decried some aspects of the report , saying the critics were trying to smear the Mugabe 's party .

`` I can confirm that there has been illegal mining taking place in Zimbabwe , but we seem to be getting on top of the situation now , '' said Kembo Mohadi , Zimbabwe 's co-minister of home affairs .

The government has not been able to verify allegations of deaths and mass graves , Mohadi said .

`` As a responsible government , we have started investigating these reports , '' he said , adding that mining proceeds in the cash-strapped nation are not being distributed to any particular group .

`` The money will not be handled by any party but by the Treasury , '' he said .

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Probe finds illegal diamond mining by Zimbabwe troops leads to attacks on civilians

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Watchdog group urges government to investigate accusations against military

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Zimbabwean official admits illegal diamond mining taking place

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Government unable to verify allegations of deaths and mass graves , official says